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23 votes

As a Hindu, can I feed other people beef?

Manu Smriti 5.51. He who permits (the slaughter of an animal), he who cuts it up, he who kills it, he who buys or sells (meat), he who cooks it, he who serves it up, and he who eats it, (must all be ...
Rickross's user avatar
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19 votes

Why did Sri Rama banish Lady Sita when he was a witness of her fire-test himself?

UTTARA KANDA is a PRAKSHIPTA - an insertion made at a later date. As the episode of banishment of Sita finds place in this Kanda, it has to be rejected. In view of the following contradictions in the ...
Srimannarayana K V's user avatar
19 votes

Are these verses from Garuda Purana and Brihadaranyaka Upanishad asking men to beat women? If not, how should they be interpreted?

Garuda purana 1.109.31 is a verse taken From manu smriti, also it's taken without its context Manu says this 8.299. A wife, a son, a slave, a pupil, and a (younger) brother of the full blood, who ...
Anubhav Jha's user avatar
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18 votes
Accepted

Why did god create us even though he knew that we will partake in adharma?

Let's see this the way Tantra talks about it. Shiva Sutras, Introduction part, Page xix, The God is nothing but Ultimate Reality, also termed as chit or Parasamvit. It is non-relational consciousness....
TheLittleNaruto's user avatar
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17 votes
Accepted

What exactly is a leela (लीला)? Is there a scriptural definition of leela (लीला)?

First of all, a question arises: How or why is the name or concept of Leela relevant in Hinduism? It's because Brahman is defined as fully omniscient and omnipotent by many Vedic verses. Brahman is ...
Tezz's user avatar
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16 votes

How is "Patriotism" seen from the Hindu Dharma perspective?

The Vedas, in particular, do not have a limited (narrow) vision of patriotism. The Vedas clearly say that we all are the children of Mother Earth. Hence, we should love the whole earth as our ...
Rickross's user avatar
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16 votes
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Can a married woman take out her Mangala Sutra and keep it anywhere?

No. A married woman is not allowed to remove mangal sutra for the sake of convenience. As you have said in the question, we see many people who do not wear mangal sutra to offices and to some social ...
Sarvabhouma's user avatar
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15 votes
Accepted

Do scriptures allow Hindus to marry foreigners?

No, the Dharma Shastras explicitly forbid Hindus from marrying foreigners, otherwise known as Mlecchas. Here are some verses from the Atri Smriti that prohibit interracial marriages: The purification ...
Ikshvaku's user avatar
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14 votes
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Does the shloka 'ahiṃsā paramo dharma' or excerpt appear in Mahabharata?

Yes, this shloka is present in Mahabharata. 1) Adi Parva of Mahabharata: Sauti Muni talking about Rishi Sahasrapat tells Rishi Ruru about the characteristics of a brahamana. अहिंसा परमॊ धर्मः सर्वप्रा...
Pinakin's user avatar
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14 votes
Accepted

Is the Manusmriti written to favor a particular Varṇa?

NOTE: Manusmriti critics have cherry-picked certain verses from the Manusmriti to show that Manu was unfair towards Shudras and partial towards Brahmins. The purpose of this answer is to provide the ...
Ikshvaku's user avatar
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13 votes

How is "Patriotism" seen from the Hindu Dharma perspective?

In Hinduism, Earth and Bharatvarsh is considered as mother. And, in general, everyone love their mother. Vishnu Purana says: उत्तरम् यत् समुद्रस्य हिमाद्रे: चैव दक्षिणम्। वर्षम् तद् भारतम् नाम भारती ...
Triyugi Narayan Mani's user avatar
13 votes

Can a married woman take out her Mangala Sutra and keep it anywhere?

This is to supplement Sree Charan's correct answer with quotes from Shastras. The Manu Smriti says that there is no Vedic sacrament for women.But what is Vedic sacrament for men the nuptial (wedding) ...
Rickross's user avatar
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13 votes
Accepted

What are the Hindu Code of Conduct (Ethics)?

In Santana Dharma, the "right way of living" is preached in many scriptures. Actually the Sanskrit word "Dharma" itself stands for similar meaning. Ethics (Ethical code or Code Of ...
Pandya's user avatar
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13 votes

Vishnu seducing Jalandhar's wife Vrinda: How justified?

The source you have cited in question is not proper. You should read Rudra Samhita (Yuddha Khanda) (chapter 13 - Chapter 25) of Shiva Mahapurana and/or Uttarakhada (Chapter 3 - Chapter 18) of Padma ...
The Destroyer's user avatar
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13 votes
Accepted

Does Vaishnavism ordain one to cut the tongue of a blasphemer?

The passage you quoted in your question is from Shreemad Bhagavata Maha Purana 4.4.17 and it says that "one should by force cut out the blasphemer's tongue and kill the offender". And your ...
SwiftPushkar's user avatar
  • 31.9k
12 votes

What do scriptures say about using swear or abusive words for cursing people?

Almost all cultures & civilizations have warned against harsh speeches. Even the sarcasm or the criticism also mustn't be cruel in nature. Better to withdraw them. During SabhA Parva, when ...
iammilind's user avatar
  • 19.7k
12 votes

Why is Sanātana Dharma also sometimes called Ārṣa Dharma?

According to Sanskrit Dictionary, आर्ष relating or belonging to or derived from ṛṣi-s (id est the poets of the Vedic and other old hymns) , archaistic [1][2] etc. आर्ष the speech of a ṛṣi-, the holy ...
Pandya's user avatar
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12 votes
Accepted

Is it adharma to give Dana without considering what we are giving and to whom we are giving?

First of all dealing with Apatra Dana or charity given to the undeserving candidate.This is condemned in Scriptures. From the book "Essence of Dharma Bindu " Devala Maharshi clarifies: Charity ...
Rickross's user avatar
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12 votes
Accepted

Is there any advantage for a person dying as virgin?

There is no advantage in dying a virgin unless one has formally taken up the Sannyasa dharma i.e unless one has ritually become a sannyasi. For a sannyasi strict celibacy is a must. But for all ...
Rickross's user avatar
  • 111k
12 votes

Does Hindu morality come from scripture or is it the other way round?

Morality comes from scripture. For starters, here is what Adi Shankaracharya says in this section of his Brahma Sutra Bhashya, which is actually about the subject of animal sacrifice: [The reasoning ...
Keshav Srinivasan's user avatar
12 votes

Why didn't Lord Ram try to prove Mother Sita's Purity but rather chose to exile her?

Why-didnt-lord-ram-try-to-prove-mother-sitas-purity-but-rather-chose-to-exile her? was Adharma ? The exact answer why shree Rama sent Sita on exile in the forest and not again took her Agni ...
SwiftPushkar's user avatar
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12 votes
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Dharmic role of wife in marriage

In the Vedic religion, wife is indispensable. Wife is one half and the husband the other half, and when conjoined through marriage, they make one whole unit. A man, so long he does not take a wife, ...
Rickross's user avatar
  • 111k
12 votes

What to do when scriptures go against conscience?

The answer to this question is given in scripture itself and in the writings of the greats. Scripture can be regarded as scripture only if it is reasonable. Bhishma said in Mahabharata 'Even the ...
Pradip Gangopadhyay's user avatar
12 votes

What is the male equivalent of a Widow called, in the scriptures?

Vidhura is the word used for a widower in Baudhayana Dharma Sutras 2.10.17.4: Now we will explain the rule for entering the order of ascetics (saṃnyāsa). Some (teachers say), 'He who has finished ...
Rickross's user avatar
  • 111k
11 votes

Should Krishna be considered good or bad?

The planning that went into and the actions of killing Bhishma, Jayadratha, Drona and others you've listed, may although seem unfair at times, they are in fact perfectly dhārmic actions. Speaking on ...
Say No To Censorship's user avatar
11 votes

After Dhritarashtra, why was Yudhishthira and not Duryodhana considered the next in line to be the king?

In Bharata dynasty (in which Yudhishthira and Duryodhana were born), it was not necessary that only the eldest son of a king will become the next king. The one who was worthy of becoming a king used ...
YDS's user avatar
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11 votes
Accepted

Did Swami Vivekananda eat fish and meat before he turned a sannyasi? Did he continue eating fish and meat after?

Before turning into a Sannyasin, there is a greater possibility that Swamiji might have taken the fish at least as it is a chief diet in Bengal. After becoming a Sannyasin; when Swamiji was in ...
Jatin's user avatar
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11 votes
Accepted

What do scriptures say about using swear or abusive words for cursing people?

Vidura discusses the importance of controlling one's speech To control speech, O king, is said to be most difficult. It is not easy to hold a long conversation uttering words full of meaning and ...
Pradip Gangopadhyay's user avatar
11 votes

Why did Rāma kill Śambūka? And is Rāma justified in killing him without a second chance?

This is what happened. Rama, the performer of unblemished deeds, spoke these words. Hearing them, with his face hanging downwards. he replied in these words, ‘I have been born in the womb of a ...
Pradip Gangopadhyay's user avatar

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